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Need help turning a rough field into a nice grass strip

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wingnut

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 356

Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 5:49 am Post subject: Need help turning a rough field into a nice grass strip

I own a bit of rough field that I'd like to turn into a nice grass strip. Anyone out there have any experience doing this kind of thing? I’ve talked to some of the locals around here that do some grading but it’s a little out of their range of experience. Someone suggested that I hire a motor grader but then another guy pointed out that the first thing they do with a grader is push off all the topsoil. When they’re done grading, you’re left with huge piles of lumpy topsoil to deal with that won’t spread back onto the strip without making it lumpy again. This route seems like overkill to me. The field is rough but it’s mostly level so I was hoping that I could get it smooth without bringing in heavy equipment.  I thought about tilling about six inches and then smoothing it with my tractor but I’m sold that this would make the field to soft to use for years… Any thoughts?

algate(at)attglobal.net
Guest

Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 6:35 am Post subject: Need help turning a rough field into a nice grass strip

I think a lot depends on climate and drainage. In N.Ontario most of the privately developed strips are mounded so that during the thaw the strip remains dry and useable in Spring. Even in the clay based soils this still works  - they basically move the soil to the centre if the strip and then roll it to contour the desired run off. Once seeded they continue to roll and after about two years they are perfect and useable year round.



I have attached a photo of our strip and as you can see the approach is interesting as you fly between two telephone poles on final (The wire goes underground) but passengers can find this a little disconcerting



Gary Algate

Model 4

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mike
Guest

Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 6:44 am Post subject: Re: Need help turning a rough field into a nice grass strip

Looks like a very nice strip.

wingnut

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 356

Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 6:58 am Post subject: Re: Need help turning a rough field into a nice grass strip

 	  Quote: 	
		  they basically move the soil to the centre if the strip and then roll it to contour the desired run off.  	




Don't have to worry about a thaw in SC but runoff from rain is an issue. When they push the soil to the middle, do they scrape off the topsoil first? I was told that once you dig up top soil, it has to be discarded because the grass roots make it impossible to smooth out.



 	  Quote: 	
		  Once seeded they continue to roll and after about two years they are perfect and useable year round 	




So you couldn't use the field for two years?

morid(at)northland.lib.mi
Guest

Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 7:11 am Post subject: Need help turning a rough field into a nice grass strip

If you want a good strip plow it, disk it, drag it, plant it, and once the

grass is doing well, roll it.  If you have access to a grader, crown it

slightly between disking and dragging.

Keep that top soil.  Most of the work you can do yourself if you have the

tractor, etc.

Mine is just a hay field that was in pretty good shape so I just mowed and

rolled it.

Deke



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dave(at)cfisher.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 7:42 am Post subject: Need help turning a rough field into a nice grass strip

Hi,



I have 2 strips here.

One I cultivated and harrowed and seeded in fall and picked stones on every 

walk down it .

Other one was in wheat with clover.  In the fall, I ran the bush hog over it 

and chopped it all up and then ran plug aeroator down it and overseeded and 

the grass is good.

It is not as smooth as the one I first mentioned but it still better than 

alot of grass strips and i get guys in with amphibs and they usualy comment 

how smooth it is. .



I cut with a finished mower  with a roller on the back and it gets better 

every year. Worst time is on a dry year and the roller has little impact 

except in spring.

And it does not hurt to keep grass a bit longer like 2 to 3  inches and get 

lot of mulch on it from clippings to shelter the ground from evaporation of 

the soil.

Dave

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wingnut

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 356

Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 7:43 am Post subject: Re: Need help turning a rough field into a nice grass strip

Deke: 



What did you roll your field with? Was it one of those heavy duty jobs that you drive?

algate(at)attglobal.net
Guest

Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 9:07 am Post subject: Need help turning a rough field into a nice grass strip

Sorry for clarity of post. No the field can be basically used immediately

it's just that it improves year by year with rolling and mowing etc



Gary Algate

So you couldn't use the field for two years?





Read this topic online here:



http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=57250#57250

dave(at)cfisher.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 9:20 am Post subject: Need help turning a rough field into a nice grass strip

Just for clarification .



I do not know why you would want to remove topsoil at all.



You want to plant into the topsoil.

If you are going to be raising the runway above the current level , then by 

all means remove the top soil and use after your leveling and filling has 

been done.



If you plant this fall you can fly off it when dry but it would be better to 

wait for the grass  to at least germinate so that you do not blow the loose 

dirt and seed around.



You might also check into renting a brillion seeder which is a seed drill 

for grass.

Dave



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wingnut

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 356

Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 9:51 am Post subject: Re: Need help turning a rough field into a nice grass strip

 	  Quote: 	
		  I do not know why you would want to remove topsoil at all. 	




I don't. I was informed by a local company that this is what they would have to do to get it smooth. Their explanation is that, if they didn't, any dirt they moved that had grass roots in it would be lumpy and they couldn't smooth it out. I didn't like the idea myself but these guys are not experienced with runways.



 	  Quote: 	
		  I cut with a finished mower with a roller on the back and it gets better every year. 	
 

Are you talking about one of those big barrels that you fill with water? How did you attach it to the mower deck? I was thinking I'd need to pick up one of those but I wasn't sure how effective they were.

 	  Quote: 	
		  Read this topic online here: 



http://forums.matronics.com/viewtopic.php?p=57250#57250 	




hmm. this link just takes me back to this thread.. Am I missing something?

dave(at)cfisher.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 10:57 am Post subject: Need help turning a rough field into a nice grass strip

Mine finishing mower cuts 87 "  and has 3 blades.   It attaches to a 3 pt 

hitch on  Massey diesel tractor.

I made a hitch on the back of the mower to accept a drawbar type hitch with 

a 3/4 " pin.  My roller is only 5 feet but wieghts near 1000 lbs with water.



My neighbour  has a better roller than I do and I would like to make one 

like his.

It consists of a propane tank about 10 or 12 feet wide and diamter of about 

30 to 36 " filled with water.

With the rounded ends you will not get any scalping on sharp corners.

I guess they were just talking about grading your proposed runway ?

How smooth or rough is your field now ?



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wingnut

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 356

Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 11:15 am Post subject: Re: Need help turning a rough field into a nice grass strip

 	  Quote: 	
		  I guess they were just talking about grading your proposed runway ? 	




That's correct.



 	  Quote: 	
		  How smooth or rough is your field now ? 	




With the tundra tires on my kitfox now, I coul'd probably use it as is but I imagine that it would wear the airplane after a while and wouldn't be much fun.

dave(at)cfisher.com
Guest

Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 11:26 am Post subject: Need help turning a rough field into a nice grass strip

If the field is  usuable now I would do  as little as possible but remove 

rocks and fill in the holes if not alot.

If too many possbily follow Deke's reco and work it up.

If it got solid ground cover you wil have to disc it and cultivate and 

harrow at least.

You might have to plough it first depending on how  the disc works.

The more you work it , the more rocks you will be picking over the next year 

or two.



Dave

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morid(at)northland.lib.mi
Guest

Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 3:35 am Post subject: Need help turning a rough field into a nice grass strip

I have a self powered asphalt roller that does a good job.  I also put together

a 9' articulated roller.  What I mean is that it's in three sections so that

when going around corners it works like a differential and doesn't dig into the

ground.  It's filled with concrete and probably weighs in the neighborhood of

6000 lbs.  Definitely flattens anything it rolls over.

I'll be selling the asphalt roller if anyone wants it.  Includes a trailer.

Deke

Mikado Michigan

 	  Quote: 	
		   Deke:



 What did you roll your field with? Was it one of those heavy duty jobs that

 you drive?


	




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shilocom(at)mcmsys.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 4:15 am Post subject: Need help turning a rough field into a nice grass strip

Plug aerators do seem to work well but are scarce and costly in our area.

Bob U.



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shilocom(at)mcmsys.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 4:41 am Post subject: Need help turning a rough field into a nice grass strip

You will likely have a mess if you try disking sod first.  Bob U.



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dave(at)cfisher.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 6:28 am Post subject: Need help turning a rough field into a nice grass strip

depends on the disc and soil.

Like  I said I would do as little as possible and try to rule out disc or 

ploughing if possible.

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shilocom(at)mcmsys.com
Guest

Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 9:42 am Post subject: Need help turning a rough field into a nice grass strip

I think IF I had access to one of the "plug aerators" or what ever they are

called I would consider burning the old grass down with 2 to 3 quarts of

Roundup 4lb. per acre and reseed without tilling.  Just drag the plugs

around into the holes.  The one I saw used generated quite a bit of soil

from the loosened plugs and with the Grass killed prior to running the

aerator, I'm betting you could get a pretty good grass stand and have not

washing.  Bob U.

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janderson412(at)hotmail.c
Guest

Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 4:40 pm Post subject: Need help turning a rough field into a nice grass strip

Yes, you can do a lot by just filling the low spots with soil from the high 

and re seed. Our planes don't need rolling green surfaces and if you don't 

get too carried away with the process you can make ongoing improvements.





From:  "Dave" <dave(at)cfisher.com>

Reply-To:  kitfox-list(at)matronics.com

To:  <kitfox-list(at)matronics.com>

Subject:  Re: Re: Need help turning a rough field into a nice 

grass strip

Date:  Mon, 28 Aug 2006 10:26:50 -0400




depends on the disc and soil.

Like  I said I would do as little as possible and try to rule out disc or 

ploughing if possible.

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